Short Summary

The American airliner which was hijacked on route from Beirut to Rome on Monday (22 June), and taken to Cairo, later arrived safely at Rome Airport.

Description

The American airliner which was hijacked on route from Beirut to Rome on Monday (22 June), and taken to Cairo, later arrived safely at Rome Airport.

The Pan-American Boeing 707 with 134 passengers on board was diverted to Cairo by a 31-year-old Albanian, Haxthi Hassan Yaert, wielding an automatic pistol and a bag supposedly full of bombs. Although he surrendered quietly to police in Cairo he discharged the pistol harmlessly into the air and shouted anti-American slogans as he left the aircraft.

After a delay of five hours in Cairo the aircraft was allowed to leave for Rome where it arrived, at the Fiumicino Airport, shortly before 8 o'clock in the evening.

All the passengers appeared calm though tired as they disembarked. Most had not been aware of a hijacking until they arrived at Cairo.

The Boeing's pilot, Captain John Burn, who remained apparently unflustered during the flight, left the aircraft at Rome to return home to New York on another flight.